RoboPreacher

to recreate us Easter & an empty tomb : Back when the Lutherans were first just getting a hold of me; our theology prof. invited a bunch of us students to a movie… He said it was all about Luther’s theology that he had been trying to teach us… And the movie he chose was, “Little Miss Sunshine.” Has anyone here seen it ??? Anyway, this was back when lutherans -who called themselves Christians, for heaven’s sake- were totally shocking me with their lack of stuffy, self-righteousness. And this movie did not disappoint … I thought, since our professor said the movie was about Luther’s theology, the movie would be about finding religion and then getting your life in order…   But all the characters in this movie were a total mess ! -The grandfather is foul-mouthed, among other things.  -The brother-in-law has to stay with the family because he’s on a 24/7 suicide watch.  -The eldest child can’t stand his family, and in protest ref...

now there is naught but death's gray shell The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke ! For Easter Sunday; it sure is gloomy. Not only that, either. The Gospel practically reads like a misprint this day. Here you are. Dressed in your Sunday finest. On your best behavior, no doubt. The Easter feast is waiting at home. Or the brunch reservation made weeks ago.  You’re here . Ready for some good news. All decked out and just waiting to sing Alleluias to the rafters. Only the Gospel is sure full of false-starts .  I nstead of “alleluias;” the Gospel report is keeps inserting that qualifier, “ but .” Hardly a joyous word. And that isn’t all that’s wrong! The cast isn’t filled with joy or wonder this day. The women arrive early to prepare the body, only to have two men dressed in dazzling clothes, reprimand them. They should know better than to be looking for Jesus in a tomb , they sternly say. Once they finally remember everything Jesu...

Discipleship Sermon 5 - Cross & Resurrection: As we hear this story , we all get still. Something inside us knows this story is important... Truthfully, though, it sort of feels odd to have this moment in the biblical narrative read today , doesn't it? This is that most special of stories that we save for the "Three Great Days." Hearing about the cross and the resurrection today almost feels a little inappropriate... After all, we save this most-central story for that most-central festival, for the most important moment of the Christian year...   Honestly, though, I believe there is another reason; a subtle reason we keep this story locked away to that one day. We do this, keeping the story set aside, because this story is hard to hear . This story of the empty tomb is hard to believe, it is hard to imagine; frankly it is hard for us to live after that one tomb has been found to be empty. As Bono of U2 quipped, "I can't live...